Upholstery mat reinforcing machine



Nov. 28, 1961 A. LENART ETAL 3,010,489

UPI-IOLSTERY MAT REINFORCING MACHINE Filed Dc. 28 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 28, 1961 A. LENART ETAL UPHOLSTERY MAT REINFORCING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 28, 1956 Nov. 28, 1961 A. LENART ETAL 3,010,489

UPI-IOLSTERY MAT REINFORCING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 24 Max? I F1 E-JAZ IN V EN TORJ.

Nov. 28, 1961 A. LENART ETAL UPHOLSTERY MAT REINFORCING MACHINE Filed Dec.

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INVENTORJ United States Patent 6 3,010,489 UPHOLSTERY MAT REINFORCIN G MACHINE Anthony Lenart and Anton W. Tedesco, Detroit, Mich, assignors to L. A. Young Spring & Wire Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 28, 1956, Ser. No. 631,313 18 Claims. (Cl. 140-3) This invention relates to improvements in upholstery mat reinforcing machine. The invention embodies improvements in the machine for manufacturing reinforced fabrics disclosed and claimed in the patent to Leal, No. 2,218,758, issued October 22, 1940.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a machine for weaving reinforcing wires into a web of loose fabric and severing the wires into sections and wrapping the ends of the sections around flexible reinforcing strands delivered longitudinally along the web to provide a finished web with transversely extending and transversely spaced sections of reinforcing wires connected at their ends to flexible reinforcing strands.

Second, to provide means for severing reinforcing wires woven into a web of loose fabric and wrapping the severed ends around longitudinal strands without damaging the web of fabric or interrupting the operation of the reinforcing wire weaving and web feeding means.

Third, to provide cutter means that will sever longitudinal reinforcing strands at selected positions along the length of a fabric web to which they are attached without damaging the web.

Fourth, to provide a machine having the aforementioned wire and strand connecting and cutting abilities in which the position at which the wires and strands may be connected and cut may be readily adjusted to produce upholstery mats having various arrangements and sizes of reinforced sections.

Fifth, to provide a machine of the type described which is accurate and rapid in operation and which maintains the loose fabric web in straight uniform condition relative to the reinforcing wires and strands that are applied thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, of which there are five sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of the machine and the upholstery reinforcing mat produced thereby.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine showing the mechanism for weaving succeeding transverse reinforcing wires into a web of loose fabric and severing the wires into sections and connecting them to longitudinal flexible reinforcing strands that are subsequently cut into longitudinal sections between the adjacent pairs of reinforcing wires.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view through the wire weaving and cutting mechanism taken along the plane of the line 2-2 in FIGS. 1 and 7.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary transverse cross sectional view through the reinforced web looking at the leading or delivery end of the strand feeding and wire wrapping mechanism, the view being taken along the plane of the line 33 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional through the mechanism for feeding the flexible longitudinal reinforcing strands to the fabric web and wrapping the ends of the reinforcing wires around the strands, the view being taken along the plane of the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reinforcing wire and strand feeding and wrapping mechanism with portions of the wire weaving mechanism omitted to disclose the position and action of the wire cutting and wrapping mechanism.

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FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the driving connections to the wire cutting and wrapping mechanism taken along the plane of the line 7- 7 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view through the web advancing conveyor and reinforcing strand cutting mechanism taken along the plane of the line 88 in FIGS. 1 and 9.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view taken along the plane of the line 1(l10 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the reinforced upholstery mat produced by the machine.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional View through the mat taken along the plane of the line 1212 in FIG. 11.

As indicated in the objects of the invention the present invention constitutes improvements on and additions to the mat weaving machine shown in the Leal Patent No. 2,218,758. Only so much of the prior Leal machine will be disclosed as is necessary to point out the function and coacting relationship of the present invention. Generally the mat weaving machine consists of a web feeding section 1 which supports a supply roll 2 of loose fabric such as woven burlap and delivers the fabric in a continuous web as at 3 to the reinforcing wire weaving machine. The wire weaving structure consists of a suitable framework 4 that supports a transverse cross bar 5 in spaced relationship above the table or way 6 (see FIG. 2) for the incoming web of fabric.

A lower former plate 7 is supported along the leading edge of the table 6 in opposed relation to an upper former plate 8 carried by the cross bar 5. The former plates 7 and 8 have intermeshing toothed portions which form longitudinally extending fluted portions in the web 3. The reinforcing wires 9 are fed transversely of the web through the flutes by means of feed rolls 10 illustrated In order to guide the wires as they are fedin FIG. 1. transversely through the web, a guide plate 11 is vertically reciprocably mounted on the front of the cross bar 5 and provided with backing jaws 12 that descend into the depressions of the flutes to guide the wire across the web. The jaws 12 further function to back up the flexible reinforcing strands during the wire wrapping operation as will be described.

The plate 11 is vertically reciprocated by rocker arms 13 driven by cams on the transversely extending cam shaft 14. The cam shaft 14 and the wire feed rolls 10 are driven in timed relationship from a transmission assembly 15 as is a cycle control disc 16 and the cycle control chain 17. The cam shaft 14 rotates once for each wire feeding cycle and correspondingly actuates the guide plate 11 to receive a reinforcing wire. The feed rolls 10 may, however, be interrupted during preselected cycles of the machine as determined by the cycle cam 16 so that the reinforcing wire is not fed into the machine leaving blank spaces along the length of the web. The cycle cam drive and feed interrupting mechanism are the developments of others and so are not disclosed in great detail. Generally,

the crank wheel rotates once for each rotation of the,

cam shaft 14 and actuates the connecting rod 161 and ratchet lever 162 to advance the cycle cam 16 in a step byv step manner. The cycle cam 16 actuates a lever 163 for interrupting the feed action of the rolls 10 to prevent feeding of a wire 9 and form blank spaces in the web as determined by the shape and rotation of the cam 16.

Each rotation of the cam shaft 14 actuates a cam 18 and ratchet lever mechanism indicated generally at 19 to flexible reinforcing strands 24 onto intermediate portions of the web. (See FIG. 1.) The intermediate strands 24 are delivered into feed tubes 25 that are rotatably mounted in downwardly and forwardly inclined position in support heads 26 transversely adjustably mounted on the cross bar 5. The feed tubes 25 have forward ends 27 projected through selected jaws of the upper former plate 8 and are of such size at their forward ends so as to snugly but slidably support the reinforcing strands 24. The forward ends of the feed tubes 25 have bending lugs 28 projecting axially therefrom and these lugs are positioned at the bottoms of the tubes below the reinforcing wires 9 as the wires are fed transversely through the machine.

In order to sever the succeeding reinforcing wires between the pairs of rein-forcing strands 24 each support 7 head has a cutter bar 29 pivotally mounted thereon as at 30 and the cutter bar has a depending arm with a rearwardly notched cutter 31 on its lower end. The upper arm 32 of the cutter bar carries a follower roll 33 that is engaged by a cam 34 on the cam shaft 14. The cam 34 i carries a lift 35 that actuates the cutter bar to move the cutter 31 rearwardly into a slot 35 in the former plate 8 to sever the reinforcing wire 9.

' The rear ends of the feed tubes 25 are provided with meshing gears 37 retained on the rear side of the support head 26 by cover plates 38. A pinion 39 rotatably supported on the support head has a rearwardly projecting drive shaft 40 to which the actuating lever 41 is secured. The swinging end of the lever 41 carries a follower roll 42 received in an annular box cam groove 43 in the previously mentioned cam 34. The cam groove 43 thus transversely oscillates the lever 41 and angularly oscillates the gear 39 and through them the two feed tubes 25 so that the bending lugs 28 rotate in wrapping manner around the intermediate strands 24 as is shown by the dotted lines in 'FIG. 3. The cam lift 35 and the box cam groove 43 are angularly disposed on the cams 34 so that the cutter 31 first cuts the reinforcing wires and then the wrapping lugs 28 wrap the severed ends around the intermediate strands and return to the positions shown in FIG. 3. The earns 34 are angularly disposed on the cam shaft 14 to actuate the cutter and wrappers after each succeeding reinforcing wire has been delivered through the fluted web. 7

The conveyor 20 that carriesaway the reinforced web is similar in operation to the conveyor disclosed in the Richardson and Hood application but differs therefrom in that the links of the several conveyor chains 20 have a plurality of outwardly facing teeth 44 adapted to engage a wider. range of spacings of the reinforcing wires 9 on the web. By varying the length of each advancing step of the conveyor 20 it is thus possible to produce a web having a wide variety of reinforcing wire spacings.

The conveyor 20 advances the reinforced web with the reinforcing wires cut and wrapped in sections around the several flexible strands 22 and 24 to a cutter mechanism supported on a second cross bar 45 positioned above and forwardly from the leading end of the conveyor 20 as appears in FIG. 8. The second cross bar 45 supports end cutter slides 46 and intermediate cutter slides 47 over the reinforcing strands 22 and 24. The slides support rearwardly projecting guide rails .48 and 49. that project.

rearwardly along the conveyor 20 and are supported at their rear ends by angled braces 50. The rear ends of the guides 48 and 49 have pointed ends 51 (see FIG. 10) that penetrate between the web of the fabric and the wrapped ends of the reinforcing wires 9 where the wires are connected to the reinforcing strands 22 and 24. The reinforcing strands are thus advanced along the upper sides of the guides 48 and 49 as shown in FIG. 9 in spaced relationship above the fabric to which they are attached. The cutter slides 46 and 47 carry vertically reciprocable cutters 52 and 53 respectively that are slidable in lapped relation across the leading ends of the guides 48 and 49 to sever the longitudinal reinforcing strands 22 and 24. The cutters 52 and 53 are actuated by arms 54 on a rock shaft 55 rotatably supported across the tops of the cutter slides 46 and 47. A cutter actuating means such as the air actuated cylinder 56 is connected to actuate the cutters. The cylinder 56 and the cutters are under the control of an electrically actuated valve 57 (see FIG. 1) and the valve 57 is conveniently controlled through the control cable '58 and a switch 59 positioned to be actuated by a cam 60 on the previously mentioned cycle control chain 17. The cutters 52 and 53 can thus be actuated in a predetermined manner to sever the longitudinal strands 22 and 24 at any preselected spacing along the length of the web as at a space where one of the transversely reinforcing wires is omitted. The web is then in condition to be severed into individual reinforcing mats. It is pointed out that the control cam 60 can be made either single or double to make a single cut in the longitudinal strands or to actually cut out a short section of the strands according to the wishes of the customer for the mats.

The finished mat as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 consists of a section of the loose fabric 3 with a plurality of transversely extending reinforcing wires 9 woven therethrough. The wires 9 extend evenly and parallel to the edges of the mat and are divided into transverse sections wrapped securely around the reinforcing strands 22 and 24 as at 61. The machine disclosed can be adjusted to provide mats of any length and of any longitudinal spacing of the reinforcing wires. The transverse spacing or position of longitudinal reinforcing strands 22 and 24 can likewise be adjusted to any desired position. The mats are particularly desirable for covering'a spring structure preparatory to covering the spring structure with padding and upholstery. By dividing the mat into transverse sections a person seated on one section of the mat and spring structure will not deflect adjacent portions of the mat and spring.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new'and'is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for reinforcing a web of burlap with transverse wires and longitudinal strands and having spaced and intermeshed toothed former plates for forming flutes in the web and wire feed means for feeding a length of reinforcing wire transversely through the flutes formed by the plates, means for dividing said wires and strands into sections and securing the wires to the strands comprising a cross bar extending across said web and supporting the upper of said plates, means on said bar for severing a length of wire from a supply of wire and wrapping the ends of the length in loops, means for feeding a pair of side reinforcing strands along said web and through said wrapping means, other means for feeding intermediate reinforcing strands in pairs along said web, support heads adjus-tably mounted on said cross bar and aligned with said other feed means, feed tubes rotatably mounted in transversely spaced pairs on said heads and inclined downwardly and forwardly in the direction of travel of the web and terminating adjacent the transverse path of reinforcing wires passed through said flutes, said other strands being threaded through said tubes, cutter bars pivotally mounted on said heads and having arms with cutting edges swingably mounted between the tubes of each of said pairs of tubes, a cam shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said cross bar and having first'cams engageable with said cutter bars to actuate the cutters to cut the reinforcing wire between the pairs of reinforcing strands, meshing gears on the ends of said pairs of tubes, drive gears on each head and meshed with one of the meshed gears thereon, crank arms angularly adjustably connected to said drive gears and having projecting followers, annular box cams on said cam shaft engaged with said followers to angularly oscillate said tubes in timed relation to said cutters, bending lugs projecting from the leading ends of said tubes and rotatable therewith to wrap the severed ends of said wires about the strands issuing from said tubes, a conveyor having a plurality of transversely spaced chain loops with notches therein arranged to engage and advance the reinforcing Wires in said web to pull the web past said former plates, a second cross bar mounted beyond the leading end of said conveyor, cutter slides transversely adjustably mounted on said second bar, strand cutter blades reciprocably mounted on said cutter slides, backing rails mounted on said cutter slides and extending rearwardly therefrom to penetrate between said web and the wrapped ends of said wires and support said strands under said strand cutters, a rock shaft on said cutter slides having arms connected to actuate said strand cutter blades, power means connected to actuate said rock shaft, drive means connected to drive said cam shaft and said conveyor and wire feed means in timed relation, a cycle member driven in adjustable timed relation to said cam shaft, and control means actuated by said cycle member and connected to actuate said power means to actuate said rock shaft.

2. In a machine for reinforcing a web of burlap with transverse wires and longitudinal strands and having spaced and inter-meshed toothed former plates for forming flutes in the web and wire feed means for feeding a length of reinforcing wire transversely through the flutes formed by the plates, means for dividing said wires and strands into sections and securing the Wires to the strands comprising a cross bar extending across said web, means on said bar for severing a length of wire from a supply of wire and wrapping the ends of the length in loops, means for feeding a pair of side reinforcing strands along said web and through said wrapping means, other means for feeding intermediate reinforcing strands in pairs along said web, support heads adjustably mounted on said cross bar and aligned with said other feed means, feed tubes rotatably mounted in transversely spaced pairs on said heads and inclined doumwardly and forwardly in the direction of travel of the web and terminating adjacent the transverse path of reinforcing wires passed through said flutes, said other strands being threaded through said tubes, cutter bars pivotally mounted on said heads and having arms with cutting edges swingably mounted between the tubes of each of said pairs of tubes, a cam shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said cross bar and having first cams engageable with said cutter bars to actuate the cutters to cut the reinforcing wire between the pairs of reinforcing strands, meshing gears on the ends of said pairs of tubes, drive gears on each head and meshed with one of the meshed gears thereon, crank arms connected to said drive gears and having projecting followers, annular box cams on said cam shaft engaged with said followers to angularly oscillate said tubes in timed relation to said cutters, bending lugs projecting from the leading ends of said tubes and rotatable therewith to wrap the severed ends of said wires about the strands issuing from said tubes, a conveyor having a plurality of transversely spaced chain loops with notches therein arranged to engage and advance the reinforcing Wires in said web to pull the Web past said former plates, a second cross bar mounted beyond the leading end of said conveyor, cutter slides transversely adjustably mounted on said second bar, strand cutter blades reciprocably mounted on said cutter slides, backing rails mounted on said cutter slides and extending rearwardly therefrom to penetrate between said web and the wrapped ends of said wires and support said strands under said strand cutters, a rock shaft on said cutter slides having arms connected to actuate said strand cutter blades, power means connected to actuate said rock shaft, drive means connected to drive said cam shaft and said conveyor and wire feed means in timed relation, a cycle member driven in timed relation to said cam shaft, and control means actuated by said cycle member and connected to actuate said power means to actuate said rock shaft.

3. In a machine for reinforcing a web of burlap with transverse wires and longitudinal strands and having spaced and intermeshed toothed former plates for forming flutes in the Web and wire feed means for feeding a length of reinforcing wire transversely through the flutes formed by the plates, means for dividing said wires and strands into sections and securing the Wires to the strands comprising a cross bar extending across said Web, means on said bar for severing a length of wire from a supply of wire and wrapping the ends of the length in loops, means for feeding a pair of side reinforcing strands along said web and through said wrapping means, other means for feeding intermediate reinforcing strands in pairs along said web, support heads mounted on said cross bar and aligned with said other feed means, feed tubes rotatably mounted in transversely spaced pairs on said heads and terminating adjacent the transverse path of reinforcing wires passed through said flutes, said other strands being threaded through said tubes, cutter bars pivotally mounted on said heads and having arms With cutting edges swingably mounted between the tubes of each of said pairs of tubes, a cam shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said cross bar and having first cams engageable with said cutter bars to actuate the cutters to cut the reinforcing wire between the pairs of reinforcing strands, meshing gears on the ends of said pairs of tubes, drive gears on each head and meshed with one of the meshed gears thereon, crank arms connected to said drive gears and having projecting followers, annular box cams on said cam shaft engaged with said followers to angularly oscillate said tubes in timed relation to said cutters, bending lugs projecting from the leading ends of said tubes and rotatable therewith to wrap the severed ends of said wires about the strands issuing from said tubes, a conveyor having a plurality of transversely spaced chain loops with notches therein arranged to engage and advance the reinforcing wires in said web to pull the Web past said former plates, a second cross bar mounted beyond the leading end of said conveyor, cutter slides mounted on said second bar, strand cutter blades reciprocably mounted on said cutter slides, backing rails mounted on said cutter slides and extending rearwardly therefrom to penetrate between said Web and the wrapped ends of said wires and support said strands under said strand cutters, a rock shaft on said cutter slides having arms connected to actuate said strand cutter blades, power means connected to actuate said rock shaft, drive means connected to drive said cam shaft and said conveyor and wire feed means in timed relation, a cycle member driven in timed relation to said cam shaft, and control means actuated by said cycle member and connected to actuate said power means to actuate said rock shaft. a

4. In a machine for reinforcing a web of loose fabric with transverse wires and longitudinal strands and having spaced and intermeshed toothed former plates for forming flutes in the web and wire feed means for feeding a length of reinforcing wire transversely through the flutes formed by the plates, means for dividing said wires and strands into sections and securing the wires to the strands comprising a cross bar extending across said Web, means on said bar for wrapping the ends of the length in loops, means for feeding a pair of side reinforcing strands along said web and through said wrapping means, other means for feeding intermediate reinforcing strands along said Web, support heads adjus-tably' mounted on said cross bar and aligned with said other feed means, feed tubes rotatably mounted in said heads and inclined downwardly and forwardly in the direction of travel of the web and terminating adjacent the transverse path of reinforcing wires passed through said flutes, said other strands being threaded through said tubes, cutter bars pivotally mounted on said heads and having arms with cutting edges swingably mounted adjacent said tubes, a cam shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said cross bar and having first cams engageable with said cutter bars to actuate the cutters to, cut the reinforcing wire adjacent the reinforcing strands, gears on the ends of said tubes, drive gears on each head and meshed with the gears thereon, crank arms connected to said drive gears, annular box cams on said cam shaft engaged with said crank arm to angularly oscillate said tubes in timed relation to said cutters, bending lugs projecting from the leading ends of said tubes and rotatable therewith to wrap severed ends of said wires about the strands issuing from said tubes, a conveyor arranged to engage and advance said web to pull the web past said former plates, a second cross bar mounted in front of said first bar, cutter slides mounted on said second bar, strand cutter blades reciprocably mounted on said cutter slides, backing rails mounted on said cutter slides and extending rearwardly therefrom to penetrate between said web and the wrapped ends of said wires and support said strands ajacent said strand cutters, a rock shaft on said cutter slides having arms connected to actuate said strand cutter blades, power means connected to actuate said rock shaft, drive means connected to drive said cam shaft and said conveyor and wire feed means in timed relation, a cycle member driven in timed relation to said cam shaft, and control means actuated by said cycle member and connected to actuate said power means to actuate said rock shaft.

5. In a machine for reinforcing a web of loose fabric with transverse wires and longitudinal strands and having spaced and intermeshed toothed former plates for forming flutes in the web and wire feed means for feeding a length of reinforcing Wire transversely through the flutes,

formed by the plates, means for dividing said Wires and strands into sections and securing the wires to the strands comprising a cross bar extending across said web, means on said bar'for wrapping the ends of the length in loops, means for feeding a pair of side reinforcing strands along said web and through said wrapping means, other means for feeding intermediate reinforcing strands along said web, support heads adjustably mounted on said cross bar and aligned with said other feed means, feed tubes rotatably mounted in said heads and terminating adjacent the transverse path of reinforcing wires passed through said flutes, said other strands being threaded through said tubes, cutter bars pivotally mounted on said heads and having arms with cutting edges swingably mounted adjacent said tubes, a cam shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said cross bar and having first cams engageable with said cutter bars to actuate the cutters to cut the reinforcing wire adjacent the reinforcing strands, gears on the ends of'said tubes, drive gears on each'head and meshed with the gears thereon, crank arms connected to said drive gears, annular box cams on said cam shaft engaged with said crank arms to angularly oscillate said tubes in timed relation to said cutters, bending lugs projecting from the leading ends of said tubes and rotatable therewith to wrap severed ends of said Wires about the strands issuing from said tubes, a conveyor arranged to engage and advance said web to pull the web past said former plates, a second cross bar mounted in front of said first bar, cutter slides mounted on said second bar, strand cutter blades reciprocably mounted on said cutter slides, backing rails mounted on said cutter slides and extending rearwardly therefrom to penetrate between said web and the Wrapped ends of said wires and support said strands adjacent said strand cutters, a drive member connected to actuate said strand cutter blades, power means connected to actuate said drive member, drive means connected to drive said cam shaft and said conveyor and wire feed means in timed relation, a cycle member driven in timed relation to said cam shaft, and control means actuated by said cycle member and connected to actuate said power means to actuate said drive member.

6. In a machine for reinforcing a web of loose fabric with transverse wires and longitudinal strands and having toothed former plates for forming flutes in the web and wire feed means for feeding a length of reinforcing wire transversely through the flutes formed by the plates, means for dividing said wires and strands into sections and securing the wires to the strands comprising a cross bar extending across said web and supporting the upper of said plates, means on said bar for severing a length of wire from a supply of wire and wrapping the ends of the length in loops, means for feeding a pair of side reinforcing strands along said web and through said wrapping means, other means for feeding intermediate reinforcing strands in pairs along said web, support heads adjustably mounted on said cross bar and aligned with said other feed means, feed tubes rotatably mounted in transversely spaced pairs on said heads and inclined downwardly and forwardly in the direction of travel of the web and terminating adjacent the transverse path of reinforcing wires passed through said flutes, said other strands being threaded through said tubes, cutter bars pivotally mounted on said heads and having arms with cutting edges swingably mounted between the tubes of each of said pairs of tubes, a cam shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said cross bar and having first cams engageable with said cutter bars to actuate the cutters to cut the reinforcing wire between the pairs of reinforcing strands, meshing gears on the ends said pairs of tubes, drive gears on each head and meshed with one of the meshed gears thereon, crank arms connected to said drive gears and having projecting followers, annular box camsoon said cam shaft engaged with said followers toangularly oscillate said tubes in timed relation to said cutters, bending lugs projecting from the leading ends of said tubes and rotatable therewith to Wrap thesevered ends of said wires about the strands issuing from said tubes, and'a conveyor having a plurality of transversely spaced chain loops with notches therein arranged to engage and advance the reinforcing wires in said web to pull the web past said former plates.

7. In a machine for reinforcing a web of loose fabric with transverse wires and longitudinal strands and having toothed former plates for forming flutes in the web and wire feed means for feeding a length of reinforcing wire transversely through the flutes formed by the plates, means for dividing said wires and strands into sections and securing the wires to the strands comprising a cross bar extending across said web and supporting the upper of said plates, means on said bar for-severing a length of wire from a supply of wire and wrapping'the ends of the length in loops, means for feeding a pair of side reinforcing strands along said web and through said wrapping means, other means for feeding intermediate reinforcing strands in pairs along said web, support heads adjustably mounted'on said cross bar and aligned with said other feed means, feed tubes rotatably mounted in transversely spaced pairs on said heads and terminating adjacent the transverse path of reinforcing wires passed through saidrflutes, said other strands being threaded through said tubes, cutter bars pivotally mounted on said heads and having arms with cutting edges swingably mounted between the tubes of each'of said pairs of tubes, a cam shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said cross bar and having first cams engageable with said cutter bars to actuate the cutters to cut the reinforcing wire between the pairs of reinforcing strands, meshing gears on the ends of said pairsof tubes, drive gears on each head and meshed with one of the meshed gears thereon, crank arms connected to said drive gears and having projecting followers, annular box cams on said cam shaft engaged with said followers to angularly oscillate said tubes in timed relation to said cutters, bending lugs projecting from the leading ends of said tubes and rotatable therewith to wrap the severed ends of said wires about the strands issuing from said tubes, and a conveyor arranged to engage and advance said web to pull the web past said former plates.

8. In a machine for reinforcing a web of loose fabric with transverse wires and longitudinal strands and having toothed former plates for forming flutes in the web and wire feed means for feeding a length of reinforcing wire transversely through the flutes formed by the plates, means for dividing said wires and strands into sections and securing the wires to the strands comprising means for severing a length of wire from a supply of Wire and wrapping the ends of the length in loops, means for feeding a pair of side reinforcing strands along said web and through said wrapping means, other means for feeding intermediate reinforcing strands in pairs along said web, support heads mounted over said web and aligned with said other feed means, feed tubes rotatably mounted in transversely spaced pairs on said heads and terminating adjacent the transverse path of reinforcing wires passed through said flutes, said other strands being threaded through said tubes, cutter bars pivotally mounted on said heads and having arms with cutting edges swingably mounted between the tubes of each of said pairs of tubes, a cam shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said heads and having first cams engageable with said cutter bars to actuate the cutters to cut the reinforcing wire between the pairs of reinforcing strands, meshing gears on the ends of said pairs of tubes, drive gears on each head and meshed with one of the meshed gears thereon, crank arms connected to said drive gears, annular box cams on said cam shaft engaged with said crank arms to angularly oscillate said tubes in timed relation to said cutters, bending lugs projecting from the leading ends of said tubes and rotatable therewith to wrap severed ends of said wires about the strands issuing from said tubes, and a conveyor arranged to engage and advance said web to pull the web past said former plates.

9. In a machine for reinforcing a web of loose fabric with transverse wires and longitudinal strands and having toothed former plates for forming flutes in the web and wire feed means for feeding a length of reinforcing wire transversely through the flutes formed by the plates, means for dividing said wires and strands into sections and securing the wires to the strands comprising means for severing a length of wire from a supply of wire and wrapping the ends of the length in loops, means for feeding a pair of side reinforcing strands along said web and through said wrapping means, other means for feeding intermediate reinforcing strands along said web, support heads'mounted over said Web and aligned withsaid other feed means, feed tubes rotatably mounted in said heads and terminating adjacent the transverse path of reinforcing wires passed through said flutes, said other strands being threaded through said tubes, cutter bars pivotally mounted on said heads and having arms with cutting edges swingably mounted adjacent said tubes, a cam shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said heads and having first cams engageable with said cutter bars to actuate the cutters to cut the reinforcing wire adjacent the reinforcing strands, gears on the ends of said tubes, drive gears on each head and meshed with the gears thereon, crank arms connected to said drive gears, annular box cams on said cam shaft engaged with said crank arms to angularly oscillate said tubes in timed relation to said cutters, bending lugs projecting from the leading ends of said tubes and rotatable therewith to wrap severed ends of said wires about the strands issuing from said tubes, and a conveyor arranged to engage and advance said web to pull the web past said former plates.

10. In combination with a machine having means for forming longitudinal flutes in a web of material and 10 means for drawing the Web through said flute forming means in a step by step manner, means arranged to weave a reinforcing wire transversely across the web and through the flutes while the web is stationary, means for feeding flexible strands longitudinally onto said web in laterally spaced positions, means engageable with said wires to wrap the ends of the wires around said strands, other means for feeding a pair of other flexible strands 'onto said web between saidfirst two strands, said last means including a pair of tubes terminating at their forward ends closely adjacent the position said wires are woven into said Web, a cutter movable longitudinally along the surface of said Web to out said wires into sections between said other strands, means for bending the adjacent severed end of the sections of said wires around said other strands, said last means including lugs projecting axially from the ends of said tubes and means for rotatively oscillating the tubes, a backing member movable downwardly into backing engagement with said strands adjacent to said bending means, means connected to advance said backing member prior to actuation of said bending means and to retract said backing member after actuation of said bending means, support means positioned forwardly along the path of travel of said web from said bending means and located to penetrate between said web and the bent ends of said wire to support said strands, cutter means reciprooable across the strands supported by said support means, and means connected to drive said weaving means and said conveyor and said bending means and said cutter and said cutting means in timed relation.

11. In combination with a machine having means for forming longitudinal flutes in a web of loosely woven fabric material and means for drawing the web through said flute forming means in a step by step manner, means arranged to weave a reinforcing wire transversely across the web and through the flutes while the web is stationary, means for feeding flexible strands longitudinally onto said web in laterally spaced positions, means engageable with said wires to wrap the ends of the wires around said strands, other means for feeding 'a pair of other flexible strands onto said web between said first two strands, a cutter movable longitudinally along the surface of said web to out said wires into sections between said other strands, means for bending the adjacent newly severed ends of the sections of said wires around said other strands, a backing member movable downwardly into backing engagement with said strands adjacent to said bending means, means connected to advance said backing member prior to actuation of said bending means and to retract said backing member after actuation of said bending means, support means positioned forwardly along the path of travel of said web from said bending means and located to penetrate between said web and the bent ends of said wire to support said strands, cutter means reciprocable across the strands supported by said support means, and means connected to drive-said weaving means and said conveyor and said bending means and said cutter and said cutting means in timed relation.

12. In combination with a machine having means for forming longitudinal flutes in a web of loosely woven fabric material and means for drawing the web through said flute forming means in a step by step manner, means arranged to weave a reinforcing Wire transversely across the web and through the flutes while the web is stationary, means for feeding flexible strands longitudinally onto said web in laterally spaced positions, means engageable with said wires to wrap the ends of the wires around said strands, other means for feeding a pair of flexible strands onto said web between said first two strands, said last means including a pair of tubes terminating at their forward ends closely adjacent the position said wires are woven into said Web, a cutter movable longitudinally along the surface of said web to cut said wires into,

' drawing means and said backing and bending means and said cutter in timed relation.

13. In combination with a machine having means for forming longitudinal flutes in a web of loosely woven said flute, forming means in a step by step manner, means arranged adjacent the flute forming means to weave a reinforcing wire transversely across the web and through the flutes while the web is stationary, means located adjacent said flute forming means for feeding flexible strands longitudinally onto said web in laterally spaced positions, said last means including a pair of tubes terminating at their forward ends closely adjacent the position said wires are woven into said Web, a cutter supported adjacent the web delivery side of said flute forming means and movable longitudinally along the surface of said web 'to cut said wires into sections between said strands, means for bending the adjacent newly severed ends of the sections of said wires around said strands, said last means including lugs projecting axially from the ends of said tubes and .rneans for rotativelyoscillating the tubes, and means connected to drive said weaving means and said web drawing means and said bending means and said cutter in timed relation. 7

14. In combination with a machine having means for forming longitudinal flutes in a web of loosely woven fabric material and means for drawing the web through said flute forming means in a step by step manner, means arranged adjacent the flute forming means to weave a reinforcing wire transversely across the web and through the flutes while the web is stationary, means located adjacent said flute forming means for feeding flexible strands longitudinally onto said web in laterally spaced positions, a cutter supported adjacent the web delivery side of said flute forming means and movable longitudinally along the surface of said web to cut said wires into sections between said strands, means for bendingthe adjacent newly severed ends of the sections of said wires around said other strands, support means positioned forwardly along the path of travel of said web from said bending means and located to penetrate between said web and the bent ends of said wire to support said strands, cutter means reciprocable across the strands supported by said support means, and means connected to drive said weaving means and said web drawing means and said bending,

means and said cutter and said cutting means in timed relation.

15. In combination with a machine having means for forming longitudinal flutes in a web of loosely woven fabric material and means for drawing the web through said flute forming means in a step by step manner, means arranged adjacent the flute forming means to weave a reinforcing wire transversely across the web and through the flutes while the web is stationary, means located adjacent said flute forming means for feeding flexible strands longitudinally onto said web in laterally spaced positions intermediate of end spaced from the side edges of the web, a cutter supported adjacent the web delivery side of said flute forming means and movable longitudinally along the surface of said web to cut said wires into sections between said strands, means for bending the adjacent newly severed ends of the sections of said wires around said strands, and means connected to drive said weaving means and said web drawing means and said bending means and said cutter in timed relation.

.15 fabric material and means for drawing the web through 16. In combination with a machine having means for advancing a web of loosely woven fabric in a step by step manner, means arranged 'to weave a reinforcing wire transversely across the web and through successive portions of the web while the web is stationary, means located adjacent said weaving means and on the web in feeding side thereof for feeding flexible strands longitudinally onto said Web in laterally spaced positions, said last means including a pair of tubes terminating at their forward ends closely adjacent the position said Wires are woven into said web, a cutter supported adjacent the Web delivery side of said flute forming means and movable longitudinally along the surface of said web to cut said wires intov sections between said strands, means for bending the adjacent newly severed ends of the sections of said wires around said strands, "said last means including lugs projecting axially from the ends of said tubes and means for rotatively oscillating the tubes, and means connected to drive said weaving means and said web advancing means and said-bending means and said cutter in timed relation. 7

17. 'A machine for forming upholstery mats having a plurality of transversely aligned reinforced sections of fabric, the sections being flexibly connected by the fabric, said machine comprising means for intermittently advancing a web of loosely woven fabric longitudinally thereof, means for weaving wires through the fabric transversely to the direction of advancement thereof in spaced parallel relation, means for feeding and advancing border reinforcing strands in timed relation to the advancement of the web and wrapping the ends of the reinforcing wires therearound, means located ahead of the web advancing side of said weaving means for severing said wires in spaced relation to their outer ends and to said border reinforcing strands, means for feeding longitudinally extending laterally spaced pairs of intermediate reinforcing strands in juxtaposed relation to the wires, means located ahead of the web advancing side of said weaving meansfor severing the wires between the intermediate strands, and means for wrapping the newly severed ends of the reinforcing wires around the said intermediate reinforcing strands.

18. A machine for forming upholstery mats having a plurality of transversely aligned reinforced sections of fabric, the sections being flexibly connected by the fabric, said machine comprising means for intermittently advancing a Web of loosely woven fabric longitudinally thereof, means for weaving wires through the fabric transversely to the direction of advancement thereof in spaced parallel relation, means for feeding and advancing border reinforcing strands in timed relation to the advancement of the web and wrapping the ends of the reinforcing wires therearound, means for feeding longitudinally extending laterally spaced intermediate reinforcing strands'in juxtaposed relation to'the wires, means located ahead of the web advancing side of said weaving means for severing the wires between the intermediate strands, and means locatedahead of the web advancing side of said weaving means for wrapping the newly severed ends of the reinforcing wires around the said intermediate reinforcing strands.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 954,205 Randall Apr. 5, 1910 1,198,349 Heany Sept. 12, 1916 1,485,827- Bull Mar. 4, 1924 2,155,186 Getz Apr. 18, 1939 2,199,212 Swem Apr. 30, 1940 2,218,749 Heilman Oct. 22, 1940 2,218,758 Leal Oct. 22, 1940 2,535,328 'Sommerville Dec. 26, 1950 2,628,642 Stockton Feb; 17, 1953 2,648,842 'Shocke y Aug. 18, 1953 2,800,151 Shockey July 23, 1957 

